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BBFB Ethics: Prohibited Practices

This policy covers the prohibited practices and restrictions on public servants.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES BY PUBLIC SERVANTS – STATE LAW

A TSBVI Board Member is a “public servant” for purposes of the following definition:

“Public servant” shall mean a person elected, selected, appointed, employed, or otherwise designated as one of the following, even if the person has not yet qualified for office or assumed his or her duties:

  1. An officer, employee, or agent of government; or
  2. A candidate for nomination or election to public office.

Penal Code 1.07(a)(41)(A), (E)

Bribery

A public servant shall not intentionally or knowingly offer, confer, agree to confer on another, solicit, accept, or agree to accept a benefit:

  1. As consideration for the recipient’s decision, opinion, recommendation, vote, or other exercise of discretion as a public servant or voter.
  2. As consideration for a violation of a duty imposed on the public servant by law on the public servant; or
  3. That is a political contribution as defined by Election Code Title 15 or an expenditure made and reported as a lobbying expense in accordance with Government Code, Chapter 305, if the benefit was offered, conferred, solicited, accepted, or agreed to pursuant to an express agreement to take or withhold a specific exercise of official discretion, if such exercise of official discretion would not have been taken or withheld but for the benefit.
  4. “Benefit” means anything reasonably regarded as pecuniary gain or pecuniary advantage, including benefit to any other person in whose welfare the beneficiary has a direct and substantial interest.

Penal Code 36.01(3), 36.02

Illegal Gifts

A public servant who exercises discretion in connection with contracts, purchases, payments, claims, or other pecuniary transactions of government commits an offense if the public servant solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any benefit from a person the public servant knows is interested in or likely to become interested in any such transactions of TSBVI.

Penal Code 1.07(41)(A), (E), 36.08(d)

A public servant who receives an unsolicited benefit that the public servant is prohibited from accepting under this section may donate the benefit to a governmental entity that has the authority to accept the gift or may donate the benefit to a recognized tax-exempt charitable organization formed for educational, religious, or scientific purposes. Penal Code 36.08(d)(i)

Exceptions

“Illegal gifts” does not apply to:

  1. A fee prescribed by law to be received by a public servant or any other benefit to which the public servant is lawfully entitled or for which the public servant gives legitimate consideration in a capacity other than as a public servant;
  2. A gift or other benefit conferred on account of kinship or a personal, professional, or business relationship independent of the official status of the recipient;
  3. A benefit to a public servant required to file a statement under Chapter 572, Government Code, or a report under Title 15, Election Code, that is derived from a function in honor or appreciation of the recipient if:
    1. The benefit and the source of any benefit in excess of $50 is reported in the statement; and
    2. The benefit is used solely to defray the expenses that accrue in the performance of duties or activities in connection with the office which are nonreimbursable by the state or political subdivision;
  4. A political contribution as defined by, Election Code Title 15;
  5. An item with a value of less than $50, excluding cash or a negotiable instrument as described by Business and Commerce Code 3.104;
  6. An item issued by a governmental entity that allows the use of property or facilities owned, leased, or operated by the governmental entity; or
  7. Food, lodging, transportation, or entertainment accepted as a guest and, if the donee is required by law to report those items, reported by the donee in accordance with that law.

Penal Code 36.10

Honoraria and Expenses

A public servant commits a class A misdemeanor offense if he or she solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept an honorarium in consideration for services that the public servant would not have been requested to provide but for his or her official position or duties. However, a public servant is not prohibited from accepting transportation and lodging expenses or meals in connection with a conference or similar event in which he or she renders services, such as addressing an audience or engaging in a seminar, to the extent those services are more than merely perfunctory. Penal Code 36.07

Abuse of Office

A public servant commits an offense if, with intent to obtain a benefit or with intent to harm or defraud another, intentionally or knowingly violates a law relating to the office or employment, or misuses government property, services, personnel, or any other thing of value, belonging to the government, that has come into the public servant’s custody by virtue of his or her office or employment. Penal Code 39.02(a)

“Law relating to the office” means a law that specifically applies to a person acting in the capacity of a public servant and that directly or indirectly imposes a duty on the public servant or governs the conduct of the public servant. Penal Code 39.01(1)

“Misuse” means to deal with property contrary to:

  1. An agreement under which the public servant holds the property;
  2. A contract of employment or oath of office of a public servant;
  3. A law, including provisions of the General Appropriations Act specifically relating to government property, that prescribes the manner of custody or disposition of the property; or
  4. A limited purpose for which the property is delivered or received.

Penal Code 39.01(2)

Official Oppression

A public servant acting under color of the public servant’s office or employment commits an offense if the public servant intentionally subjects another to sexual harassment.

A public servant acts under color of the public servant’s office or employment if the person acts or purports to act in an official capacity or takes advantage of such actual or purported capacity.

“Sexual harassment” means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, submission to which is made a term or condition of a person’s exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power, or immunity, either explicitly or implicitly.

Penal Code 39.03(a)(3), (b), (c)

Misuse of official information

A public servant commits an offense if, in reliance on information to which the public servant has access by virtue of the person’s office or employment and that has not been made public, the person:

  1. Acquires or aids another to acquire a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise that may be affected by the information;
  2. Speculates or aids another to speculate on the basis of the information; or
  3. As a public servant, including as a school administrator, coerces another into suppressing or failing to report that information to a law enforcement agency.

A public servant commits an offense if with intent to obtain a benefit or with intent to harm or defraud another, the public servant discloses or uses information for a nongovernmental purpose that:

  1. The person has access to by means of the person’s office or employment; and
  2. Has not been made public.

“Information that has not been made public” means any information to which the public does not generally have access, and that is prohibited from disclosure under Government Code Chapter 552 (the

Public Information Act). Penal Code 39.06(a), (b), (d)

Nepotism

Except as provided by law, a public official may not appoint, confirm the appointment of or vote for a person to a position that is to be directly or indirectly compensated from public funds or fees of office if:

  1. The person is related to the public official by blood (consanguinity) within the third degree or by marriage (affinity) within the second degree [see below]; or
  2. The public official holds the appointment or confirmation authority as a member of a board and the person is related to another member of the board by blood or marriage within a prohibited degree.

Gov’t Code 573.002, 573.041; [See DBE]

Definition of Public Official

A TSBVI Board member is a “public official” for purposes of the following definition:

“Public official” shall mean:

  1. An officer of this state or of a district, county, municipality, precinct, school district, or other political subdivision of this state; or
  2. An officer or member of a board of this state or of a district, county, municipality, school district, or other political subdivision of this state.

Gov’t Code 573.001(3)

The nepotism law governs the hiring of an individual, whether the individual is hired as an employee or an independent contractor. Atty. Gen. Op. DM-76 (1992)

A public official may not approve an account or draw or authorize the drawing of a warrant or order to pay the compensation of an ineligible individual if the official knows the individual is ineligible. Gov’t Code 573.083

A member of a board that has delegated to the superintendent final authority for personnel selection is not a public official with appointment authority for purposes of the nepotism prohibitions of Government Code 573.041. Atty. Gen. Op. GA-123 (2003)

With respect to renewed contracts, however, Board members may be the relevant public officials for nepotism purposes. Atty. Gen. Op. GA-177 (2004)

FORMER BOARD MEMBER EMPLOYMENT

A Board member of TSBVI may not accept employment with the School until the first anniversary of the date the Board member’s membership on the Board ends. Education Code 11.063

INCOMPATIBILITY OF OFFICE

The common law rule of incompatibility prohibits one person from holding two offices if the duties are in conflict or if one position is subordinate to the other. Offices are legally incompatible when the faithful and independent exercise of one would necessarily interfere with the faithful and independent exercise of the other. A person may not serve in one branch of government while exercising any powers properly attached to either of the other branches of government. Texas Constitution, Art. II Sec. 1; State v. Martin, 51 S.W.2d 815 (Tex. Civ. App. 1932); Thomas v. Abernathy County Line ISD, 290 S.W. 15 (Tex. Comm. App. 1927); Turner v. Trinity ISD, 700 S.W.2d 1 (Tex. Ct. App. 1983); Atty. Gen. Op. JM-634 (1987), MW-450 (1982).

DEPOSITORY CONFLICT

A Board member who is a stakeholder, officer, director, or employee of a bank that has bid or submitted a proposal to become a depository for TSBVI shall not vote on the awarding of a depository contract to said bank. Education Code 45.204(b); Gov’t. Code 2257

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS VIOLATIONS – COMMISSIONS/REBATES

A Board member commits a class B misdemeanor offense if the Board member receives any commission or rebate on any instructional materials or technological equipment used in the schools with which the Board member is associated. Education Code 31.152(a)

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS VIOLATIONS – GIFTS

A Board member commits a class B misdemeanor offense if the Board member accepts a gift, favor, or service that:

  1. Is given to the Board member or the School;
  2. Might reasonably tend to influence a Board member in the selection of instructional materials or technological equipment; and
  3. Could not be lawfully purchased with funds from state instructional materials funds.
  4. “Gift, favor, or service” does not include staff development, in-service, or teacher training; or ancillary materials, such as maps or worksheets, that convey information to the student or otherwise contribute to the learning process.

Education Code 31.152(b)-(d)

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS VIOLATIONS – FREE MATERIALS

A Board member commits an offense if the Board member knowingly violates any law providing for the purchase or distribution of free instructional materials for the public schools. Education Code 31.153

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES BY PUBLIC SERVANTS – FEDERAL LAW

Bribery – General

The term “public official” includes a person acting for or on behalf of the United States, or any department, agency, or branch thereof, in any official function, under or by authority of any such department, agency, or branch of government. The term includes any person who has been nominated or appointed to be a public official, or has been officially informed that such person will be so nominated or appointed. 18 U.S.C. 201(a); Dixson v. U.S., 465 U.S. 482, 499 (1984) (holding that even employees of a private organization that administered federal housing grants for city were “public officials” because they had some degree of official responsibility for carrying out a federal program or policy); U.S. v. Franco, 632 F.3d 880 (5th Cir. 2011)

A public official commits an offense if the public official, directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for:

  1. Being influenced in the performance of any official act;
  2. Being influenced to commit or aid in committing, or to collude in, or allow, any fraud, or make opportunity for the commission of any fraud, on the United States; or
  3. Being induced to do or omit to do any act in violation of the official duty of such official or person.

18 U.S.C. 201(b)(2)

Bribery – Federal Programs

“Agent” means a person authorized to act on behalf of another person or a government. In the case of a government, the term includes a servant or employee, and a partner, director, officer, manager, and representative.

“Government agency” means a subdivision of the executive, legislative, judicial, or other branch of government, including a department, independent establishment, commission, administration, authority, board, and bureau, and a corporation or other legal entity established, and subject to control, by a government or for the execution of a governmental or intergovernmental program.

If TSBVI receives, in any one-year period, benefits in excess of $10,000 under a federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of federal assistance, an agent of the district commits an offense if the agent:

  1. Embezzles, steals, obtains by fraud, or otherwise without authority knowingly converts to the use of any person other than the rightful owner or intentionally misapplies, property that:
    1. Is valued at $5,000 or more, and
    2. Is owned by, or is under the care, custody, or control of TSBVI; or
  2. Corruptly solicits or demands for the benefit of any person, or accepts or agrees to accept, anything of value from any person, intending to be influenced or rewarded in connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of the district involving anything of value of $5,000 or more.

This provision does not apply to bona fide salary, wages, fees, or other compensation paid, or expenses paid or reimbursed, in the usual course of business.

18 U.S.C. 666

Adopted:         1/26/07

Amended:       9/20/13, 11/17/17, 11/15/19

Reviewed: